By Orin
DavidsonHigh expectations
dissolved into disappointment for India in their 4-2 limited overs
series loss to Australia.

There was nothing
much to shout about where mega stars Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid,
Sourav Ganguly or Mahendra Singh Dhoni were concerned.

Rather, most of
the news from an Indian perspective centered around a young fast bowler
- Shanthakumuran Sreesanth who made the headlines for bizarre behavior
rather than for his proven ability to take wickets.

The 24-year-old
was castigated by the foreign media for altercations with Michael
Clarke, Brad Hodge and Andrew Symonds among others.

He took on Symonds
on several occasions verbally during the seven-game series but ending
by shouting in the batsman’s face after his dismissal in the
Chandigarh game.

Clearly Sreesanth
got carried away by Australia’s well used strategy of mental
disintegration applied in the series, to retaliate and ended up being
branded a kooky case not fit for international cricket.

Still stung by
their upset elimination by India in the Twenty/20 World Cup, Australia
was intent to wage war on all fronts on India, but they got more than
they bargained for in the war of words from Sreesanth.

Even though he
was made out as a loose cannon, the Australians who are the creators
of and abusers of sledging, once again escaped without their share
of criticism.

Former Australia
captain Ian Chappell branded Sreesanth an accident waiting to happen
and urged the Board of Control for India Cricket (BCCI) to ban him.

Such reactions
are reminiscent of the clash between West Indies’ Ramnaresh
Sarwan and former Aussie pace bowling ace Glen McGrath four years
ago.

After McGrath
started a fight he could not control in the end, after going over
the line in questioning Sarwan’s sexuality, which the latter
responded in the most jarring manner, the West Indian was made out
as the offender instead of the offendee. If McGrath did not start
the ball rolling he would not have gotten the retort about his wife.

Similarly most
observers have concluded that Sreesanth is the big bad wolf when at
the same time certain Australians are equally culpable.

They inflict just
as much damage with their words which influence opponents to react
with actions such as Sreesanth is wont to commit.

No doubt the India
player has gone overboard on occasions but you get the impression
certain teams are allowed to enjoy double standards at the expense
of others.

It was uncalled
for, when unprovoked, he bumped England captain Michael Vaughn during
the recent Test series in England.

Or when he jumped
the line and delivered a bouncer at Kevin Pieterson.

In the said series
he released a beamer to the said batsman which drew the ire of ex-England
captain Michael Atherton.

He called for
the International Cricket Council (ICC) to institute one match bans
for beamers delivered unintentionally or not.

But the worst
part of it was Atherton hinting that Sreesanth committed the act deliberately,
merely because the ball was not new, which he felt allowed for enough
grip to avert such slip ups.

It was one of
the most outrageous insinuations leveled at any player at international
level.

From all indications
Sreesanth who also was accused of having the grounds-person repair
the bowlers run-up for 15 minutes, is rubbing some people the wrong
way for being the first ultra aggressive Indian fast bowler, not overly
respectful of opponents regardless of status or nationality.

In the West Indies
where Indian teams have suffered the most at the hands of fast bowlers,
Sreesanth was not afraid to stare down or bait even the great Brian
Lara during last year’s tour.

For all his revilement,
he is no different to South Africa’s Andre Nel, a notorious
short fuse or the retired Dennis Lillee and Merv Hughes who all antagonized
batsmen.

But Sreesanth
has to tone down and avoid preempting situations when not involved
in the action as was the case while shouting down Symonds.

In that regard fans will remember him more as the fast bowler who
can swing the ball both ways with some measure of pace. Or for the
five- wicket hauls he has accumulated so far in a short career or
for knocking off Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan in the same over.

Aggression is
good in fast bowlers who must never habor inferior feelings for opposing
players.

Sreesanth is that
type of player but going over that line diminishes accomplishments
which the Indian has to be wary of.Orin
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